Washing machine assembly



April 2, 1957 E. sULzMANN WASHING MACHINE ASSEMBLY 2 sheds-sheet 1 Filed Feb. l1. 1955 49a U 06a /fw/f/Vafru ff/c/r .Sa/zwaar, raf

April 2, 1957 E. suLzMANN 2,787,150

WASHING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 11, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 iiinited States Patent WASHING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Erich Sulzmann, Bremen-SL Magnus, Germany Appiication February 11, 1955, Serial No. 487,626

Claims priority, application Germany September 10, 1954 8 Claims. (Cl. 6S-27) The present invention relates to a washing machine assembly and, more particularly, to a washing machine assembly for washing and rinsing of textiles, especially laundry.

Washing machines for washing and rinsing, especially oi laundry are known, which comprise a stationary outer casing or outer drum and an inner drum or basket rotatable in said outer drum, while water continuously flows into the outer drum and is continuously passed therefrom into the inner drum or basket from where likewise in a continuous manner water is discharged. yThe primary characteristic of such washing machine consists in that the discharge of the Wash water from the basket is eiiected by means of scoops directly from the working chambers into which the basket is sub-divided and along the axis of rotation of the basket. Such scoops communicate through perforations with each working chamber of the basket and are connected to a central discharge conduit. A washing machine of this particular type brings about a considerably better sprinkling and washing of the laundry and a direct discharge of the wash water below the laundry within the basket.

It is an object of the present invention to make use of washing machines of the above mentioned type for an improved exploitation of the wash water.

it is another object of this invention so to combine at least two washing machines of the above mentioned type that the wash water including soap and other washing and softening ingredients contained in one Washing machine can be made use of in another Washing machine to thereby cut down the consumption of wash water and washing ingredients for washing a laundry load in said second machine.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a washing machine separated by a vertical partition trans` Verse to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the machine into two chambers for washing individual loads in said chambers respectively while the second chamber will make use of the wash water and the washing ingredients left therein when the wash water is discharged from the iirst chamber.

These and other objects and advantages of the inven tion will appear more clearly from the following specii' cation in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l represents a vertical section through a washing machine provided with scoops for discharging the wash water from the basket along the axis of rotation thereof, said section being taken along the line I--I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line lI-ll of Fig. l showing two cylindrical drum-washing machines directly coupled to each other.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a cylindrical druniwashing machine and a front loading washing machine coupled to said cylindrical drum-washing machine.

Fig. 4 shows an adjustable overilow for use in connec invention.

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Fig. 5 illustrates on a somewhat larger scale than that of Fig. l the wash water discharging scoops and the discharge conduit connected thereto.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the basket with the discharge conduit.

General arrangement The primary feature of the washing machine assembly of the present invention consists in that a rst washing machine having a stationary outer drum and a rotatable basket therein with central wash water discharge has connected thereto a second washing machine comprising an outer stationary drum and a rotatable basket therein while the connection between said two washing ma.

chines is such that the centrally discharged wash and rinsing water from the rst washing machine passes into the stationary drum of said second washing machine from where the water passes into the basket where the laundry is washed and rinsed in the customary manner.

With such an arrangement it is advantageous to select as second washing machine a washing machine with a smaller volume or capacity than the rst washing machine. Preferably the second washing machine may have a capacity half the capacity of said iirst Washing machine, while the water level in said second washing machine may be controlled by an overflow. Such overflow may be stationary or if desired may be made varisecond compartment is washed and rinsed by the water discharged from the basket in the first compartment.

When using two washing machines, the rst washing machine with direct central scoopin-g of the wash and rinsing water may have connected thereto a washingV machine which is loaded from one end face thereof.

ri`he primary advantage of an assembly according to the invention consists in that in the second machine compartment or machine a further exploitation of heat and chemicals is eifected while said second washing machine compartment or machine represents so to speak a second washing step. The dirtier or more greasy laundry would be washed in the second machine compartment or machine and would not come in contact with the other less dirty or less greasy laundry in the iirst machine com partment or machine. In other words the more grease or the like containing laundry for instance colored 1aundry which at the respective time is not washed in the tirst machine compartment or machine will be favorably washed in the wash water of the second machine compartment or machine without requiring additional heat Iand ingredients such as soap, alkalies, bleach-ing means and the like. However, it is also possible, of course, to add ingredients and heat for instance in the form of steam to the second machine compartment or machine if this should be desired.

Structural arrangement in a continuous flow from a water supply line 11 which latter is provided with a faucet 11a. While during the operation of the washing machine I, lthe Water iows'ina'l continuous stream through funnel 12 into the drum 10,

the level of the bath 13 in the rotating basket 14 within the drum is held lower than the level of the bath 15 within the drum 10. In this connection it should be noted that the basket 14` is sub-divided by a partition 21 and scoops 22, 23 into two compartments 14eV and 14h arranged for receiving laundry to be Washed. Furthermore, the basket 14. is provided with relatively small perforated areas 19 arranged over a portion of the basket only, for instance near the customary washing ribs 18. These perforated areas may in certain instances also be arranged atw the end Walls of the basket. It is due to the provision of these limited perforated areas that the water level in: the basket will be lower than the water level in the drum.

The basket 1.4 is connected to a shaft 2t) in any convenient manner which latter is rotatably journalled in anyconvenient manner for instance in supports Si) shown in Fig. 2. The discharge of the water from the basket 14 is effected centrally, i. e. in the neighborhood of the shaft 20, by means of scoops 22 which extend to both sides of the partitions 21 and are connected to the shaft 20. The scoops 22 shown on a larger scale in Fig. 5 communicate through perforations 23 with each compartment 14C, 1`4b of the basket 14. These scoops 22 communicate with a discharge funnel 24 directly communieating with said scoops 22 and extending around the shaft 20, said funnel 24 being connected to the basket 14.

When the basket 19 rotates, a portion of the respective bath in the compartments 14b 'and 14e is scooped up by the scoops 2.2 through the perforations 23 and discharged through funnel 24.

The required chemicals such as soap, bleaching agents, alkalies and the like may be added to the water in the drum in any convenient manner for instance through the funnell 12.

The washing machine I may also be provided with a heating arrangement 16 which may be an electric resistance or may be a pipe arranged for connection With a steam supply. The bottom of the drum 10 may furthermore be provided with a discharge valve 17 for completely emptying the drum if this should be desired.

According to the present invention, a second washing machine II is axially conected to the washing machine I. The Washing machine I through the discharge funnel 24 discharges its washing or rinsing water into the casing or drum 2S of the washing machine II. The washing machine II has rotatably mounted therein a basket 26 which also contains laundry to be washed. The basket 26 islikewise connected to the shaft 20 of the washing machine I so that it will be rotated by said shaft of the washingl machine I. It is, of course, understood that the baskets 14 and 26 need not necessarily rotate in one direction only but may also be rotated alternately in one and the other direction. The basket 26 may be of the ordinary type, i. e. may be provided with perforations 27 over the entire circumferential area. The laundry in the basket 26 is washed and rinsed in customary manner.

In a manner known per se, the baskets are provided with lids for loading the same. Also the drums are provided with such tiltable lids in a manner known per se. The construction of the washing machine may otherwise correspond to the customary double drum washing machines.

In conformity with the present invention, the machine II has preferably a smaller capacity than the machine I and may, for instance, have a capacity of about half the capacity of the machine I. The discharge of the water from the washing machine II is effected by means ofl an overilow 28 in a manner known per se. Thus, the machine I I represents. a second washing station for further exploiting the heat and chemicals still present in Y the wash or rinsing water discharged` from the rst ma-. chine. after it has done its duty in the latter.

It 1s preferable when Washing rather dirty and greasy laundry instead of washing the same in the tirst machine to wash and rinse said laundry in the second machine.

Depending on the overflow, the water level in machine il may be kept at a higher or lower level and in particular at a level higher than the level in the washing machine I. If desired the overilow may be made adjustable in height as shown in Fig. 4.y

A particularly simplified arrangement can be obtained by designing the arrangement so that, as shown in Fig. 2 there is provided a single stationary casing or drum 10, 2S and to sub-divide said drum by a partition 29 into two washing chambers each of which will be equipped with a rotating basket 14, 26 respectively.

Fig. 3 illustrates how the washing machine assembly according to the invention may also be composed by a double drum washing machine generally designated Ia and a washing machine adapted to be loaded from one end face thereof. According to this arrangement the washing machine In has axially connected thereto a washing machine Ila adapted to be loaded from one end thereof yand provided with a stationary casing or drum 51. Also in this instance the wash and rinsing water is conveyed from the machine la through a discharge funnel 24a into the drum 51 from where it passes through the customary perforations 52 in the basket 31 into the interior of the latter so that the laundry in the basket 31 for instance colored laundry can be washed in the customary manner.

With regard to the other parts of the washing machine assembly which correspond to those of Figs. l and 2, these parts have been designated with the same reference numerals but with the additional letter a.

If desired `an increased quantity of chemicals and other washing ingredients may be added to the bath of the washing machine Ia so that this machine will wash with an excess for instance in soap, alkalies and bleaching agents over the otherwise customary quantity of such ingredients. This excess will then be used in the second washing station, i. e. the washing machine IIa. This will result in a particularly well and fast washed laundry in the machine Ia, without wasting the excess of soap and other washing ingredients Iadded to the bath of the washing machine Ia.

It is, of course, understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modications within the SCQpe 0f the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. Ay washing machine assembly comprising in combination: :a irst rotatable basket for receiving laundry to be washed,A partition means in said basket sub-dividing said basket into a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers having a limited perforated area, a second rotatable basket substantially coaxially arranged with regard to said rst basket for receiving laundry to be Washed, said second basket being substantially evenly provided with perforations over the circumferential surface thereof, casing means surrounding said baskets in spaced relationship thereto and defining therewith a first chamber and a second chamber respectively, said iirst chamber being provided with inlet means for admitting water and washing ingredients thereto, scoop means arranged near the axis of rotation of said first basket and arranged to scoop water from said rst basket, and conduit means communicating with said scoop means and leading into said second chamber for conveying water fro-rn said scoop means into said second chamber and from the latter through the perforation of said second basket into the latter.

2. A washing machine assembly comprising in combination: a lirst' rotatable basket for receiving laundry to be washed, partition means in said basket sub-dividing said basket,` into a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers having a limited perforated area, a second rotat-` able basket substantially coaxially arranged with regard to said first basket for receiving laundry to be Washed, said second basket being substantially evenly provided with perforations over the circumferential surface thereof and having a volume considerably smaller than the volume of said first basket, casing means surroundingsaid baskets in spaced relationship thereto and defining therewith a first chamber and a second chamber respectively, said first chamber being provided with inlet means for admit ting Water and washing ingredients thereto, scoop means arranged near the axis of rotation of said first basket and arranged to scoop water from said rst basket, and conduit means communicating with said scoop means and leading into said second chamber for conveying Water from said scoop means into said second chamber and from the latter through the perforation of said second basket into the latter.

3. A washing machine assembly according to claim 2, in which the volume of the second basket is approximately half the volume of said first basket.

4. A Washing machine assembly comprising in combination: a first cylindrical basket for receiving laundry to be Washed, a second cylindrical basket for receiving laundry to be washed, a rotatable shaft having both baskets connected thereto, partition means arranged in said first basket and extending radially With regard to said shaft and sub-dividing said first cylindrical basket into a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers having a limited perforated area on the cylindrical surface of said rst basket, said second basket having perforations substantially evenly distributed over the cylindrical surface thereof, scoop means arranged in said first basket adjacent said shaft for scooping Water from said first basket, casing means surrounding said baskets in spaced relationship thereto While separating said baskets from each other to form a first chamber around said first basket and a second chamber around said second basket, inlet means communicating with said first chamber for admitting Water and washing ingredients thereto, and conduit means connected to said scoop means and leading into said second chamber for conveying Water from said scoop means into said second chamber.

5. A Washing machine assembly comprising in combination: a first cylindrical basket for receiving laundry to be washed, a second cylindrical basket for receiving laundry to be Washed, rotatable shaft means having both baskets connected thereto, partition means arranged in said first basket and extending radially With regard to said shaft means and sub-dividing said first cylindrical basket into :a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers having a limited perforated area on the cylindrical surface of said first basket, said second basket having perforations substantially evenly distributed over the cylindrical surface thereof, scoop means :arranged in said first basket adjacent said shaft means for scooping water from said first basket, casing means surrounding said baskets in spaced relationship thereto while separating said baskets from cach other to form a first chamber around said first basket and a second chamber around said second basket, inlet means communicating with said first chamber for admitting Water and washing ingredients thereto, conduit means connected to said scoop means and leading into second chamber for conveying water from said scoop means into said second chamber, and overflow means associated with said second basket for determining the Water level therein.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, in which said overiiow means is adjustable for selectively varying the water level in said second basket.

7. A washing machine assembly comprising in combination: a first cylindrical basket for receiving laundry to be washed, a second cylindrical basket arranged in spaced relationship to said first cylindrical basket for receiving laundry to be Washed, a rotatable shaft having both baskets connected thereto, partition means arranged in said first basket and extending radially with regard to said shaft and sub-dividing said first cylindrical basket into a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers having a limited perforated area on the cylindrical surface of said first basket, said second basket having perforations substantially evenly distributed over the cylindrical surface thereof, scoop means arranged in said first basket adjacent said shaft for scooping Water from said first basket, a single drum surrounding said baskets in spaced rela tionship thereto, partition means arranged between said baskets and subdividing said drum so as to coniine therewith a first chamber around said first basket and a second chamber around said second basket, inlet means communicating with said first chamber for admitting Water and Washing ingredients thereto, and conduit means con nected to said scoop means and leading into said second chamber adjacent said shaft for conveying Water from said scoop means into said second chamben 8. A Washing machine assembly comprising in combination: a round drum Washing machine including a first cylindrical drum and a first basket rotatable in said first drum for receiving laundry to be Washed, said drum surrounding said basket in spaced relationship thereto, radial partition means in said basket sub-dividing said basket into a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers having a limited perforated area, a second Washing machine comprising a second cylindrical drum connected to said first drum and also comprising a second basket rotatably mounted in said second drum and provided with perforations around the entire cylindrical surface thereof, said second drum and said second basket being coaxially arranged with said first drum and said first basket, a. rotatable shaft common to and connected with both of said baskets, said first drum together with said first basket forming a first chamber, said second drum together With said second basket forming a second chamber, said first chamber being provided with inlet means for admitting Water and washing ingredients thereto, scoop means arranged near the axis of rotation of said first basket and arranged to scoop Water from said first basket, and conduit means communicating with said scoop means and leading into said second chamber for conveying Water from said scoop means into said second chamber. 

